2016 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Consumer Reviews About Gas Milage
The Car Connexion Proficient Review
Senior Editor
June 24, 2016
Likes
- Wide range of powertrains
- Flexible second row
- Easy third-row admission
- Adept connectivity
Dislikes
- Pattern is better, but nevertheless bland
- Simply-acceptable powertrains
- Somewhat busy dash blueprint
- Hybrid merely delivers if yous drive gingerly
Buying tip
features & specs
AWD iv-Door V6 LE
AWD iv-Door V6 LE Plus
AWD 4-Door V6 Express
The 2016 Toyota Highlander isn't all that exciting to await at or to drive, but it'south very versatile and handsome enough to be a neat minivan alternative.
Provided you don't plan to go off-roading and place priorities on comfort and frugality, the 2016 Toyota Highlander is one of the better three-row crossover utility vehicles on the market place.
The Highlander may look a little more than rugged than it has in the past; nevertheless it'south still more closely related to Toyota's cars than to its rugged trucks like the 4Runner. The Highlander stands as a more civil, family unit-friendly alternative to the 4Runner or a more spacious alternative to the RAV4.
At that place'southward a Highlander Hybrid, which continues to tease some very attractive fuel economy ratings; yet base inline-four and mainstream V-half-dozen models toll less, and they'll fit well-nigh family needs just as well, if not better.
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In its latest generation, the Highlander lineup has get a picayune more truck-influenced from the outside, with the maw-like grille and exaggerated wheel wells and sills offering more than a faint hint of rugged cues. Inside, the cabin is all car, although at that place are a few fine details borrowed from Toyota'due south trucks, some Teutonic-themed nuance action, and a pleasing jumble of lines and textures.
Most models will come up with the 3.five-liter V-vi, with 270 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque; information technology's as well teamed up with a 6-speed automatic, simply can be paired with either with front- or all-wheel drive. Fifty-fifty hither, information technology's not the quickest option in the class—y'all'll find a turbocharged Ford Flex or Dodge Durango V-8 is far quicker—but it'south smooth, relatively potent, and surprisingly fuel-efficient. And this year all V-6 models include the towing package, for a 5,000-pound capability. The 2.7-liter inline-4 in base of operations models is the same engine found in the smaller RAV4; it's adequate with a light load, but definitely taxed if yous load the whole family unit in. V-6 models offering a choice between front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.
Hybrid models mate the 5-six with an electronically controlled continuously variable manual (eCVT) and through-the-route all-wheel bulldoze for a net 280 hp that feels only adequate, thanks to an additional 350 pounds of curb weight. Additionally, its ratings of 27 mpg metropolis, 28 highway, 28 combined are simply a tease from our experience.
In the Highlander's current generation, it drives much amend, handles a little more than athletically, and rides quite a bit more quietly than in previous iterations. The front-strut and independent-rear suspension are tuned for less lean and more ride compactness that doesn't lapse into Euro caricature. Electric power steering is at present standard, and the all-bicycle-bulldoze system can ship around torque from front to rear when the vehicle's yaw sensors notice a more engaged driver.
At 191.1 inches long, on a 109.8-inch wheelbase, the Highlander'due south stretched by 3 inches over the prior version, simply none of information technology comes between the wheels. There's a one-half-inch more width, in what was already a fairly large vehicle—though i that's however noticeably smaller than competitors like the new Nissan Pathfinder. And a very useful tray now dominates the dashboard, allowing storage of small items like phones or purses—at that place'south even a cord laissez passer-through to connect electronics to the audio and ability ports below.
Depending on options, the Highlander tin seat upwards to eight passengers, merely like a minivan. The forepart row on all models features bucket seats separated by a large tambour-covered console. In row ii you'll find either a three-person split-bench seat with a recline characteristic, or a pair of captain'south chairs. The 2nd-row bench seat does slide to better admission to the reclining tertiary-row seat, which has iv.three inches more width for better comfort merely a famine of head room. The tertiary-row bench is handy to accept, but it remains very minor in all respects.
In that location'south a total of viii airbags in the 2016 Highlander, as well every bit a standard rearview camera. The IIHS calls information technology a Summit Prophylactic Selection+, and it's earned a v-star overall score in federal testing (admitting non with five stars in all categories). Amongst the condom options are blind-spot monitors, a lane-departure warning organization, and parking sensors. Visibility is better than in the previous generation, thank you to repositioned pillars and bigger rear-quarter windows.
The 2016 Toyota Highlander is offered in a very wide range of models, although there's a solid push to make the V-six engine the bulk of the model line. If you want the four-cylinder engine, it's simply in a most basic, cost-leading model, while the Highlander Hybrid is simply offered in top Limited or Limited Platinum AWD models. Limited Highlanders are equipped with 19-inch wheels; rear parking sensors, a blind-spot monitoring organisation; second-row captain'due south chairs; heated and ventilated forepart seats; a power forepart passenger seat; and premium audio.
To a higher place that, you lot can add the Platinum Bundle. As such, the Highlander Limited Platinum includes the Driver Engineering Package (Rubber Connect, pre-collision with adaptive cruise control, and lane-deviation alerts with automatic high beams); a heated steering wheel, a panoramic sunroof, heated captain's chairs, and (added for 2016) rain-sensing wipers.
The least expensive Highlander, the 4-cylinder model with front-bike drive, doesn't fare much better than a Ford Flex with a V-6, though, because the slightly underpowered engine has to work hard to motion the Highlander's significant mass. The base Highlander is rated at xx/25/22 mpg.
Highlander V-6 models are the best bet, practically speaking, as they come with either front- or all-bicycle drive and while they only manage 19/25/21 mpg in front end-bicycle bulldoze class or 18/24/20 mpg with all-wheel drive.
The Highlander's outside follows a familiar form, while the interior's caught up to key rivals.
The 2016 Toyota Highlander continues with a await that's perhaps a little more SUV-influenced at beginning glance, yet far softer inside, and with respect to the details, than this model has been in the by.
The Highlander remains in the greyness surface area between SUVs and more rakish crossover wagons from the outside, but it's definitely closer to a truck await, with the maw-similar grille and in the exaggerated wheel wells and sills. The shift plots it closer to the off-road-centric 4Runner in contour, and there's an SUV-ish way that runs exactly opposite to the tendency in most other large crossovers (such as the Hyundai Santa Atomic number 26, Ford Flex, and Chevrolet Traverse).
Overall, we similar the look and especially the opinion, and the Highlander's broad shoulders neatly avoid the more than cartoonish aspects of the latest 4Runner.
Within, the Highlander skips by that ambiguity, and it's all machine, with just a little scrap of truck influence in the instrument-panel details. A large touchscreen is included on navigation-equipped models, only doesn't upset the cockpit's visual clarity, since most climate and auxiliary functions nevertheless have hard buttons, non virtual on-screen ones. The lines sweep from commuter to passenger, but the focus is clearly on the left side—large gauges and big, like shooting fish in a barrel-to-operate climate-control knobs are a welcome sight.
Overall it's a pleasing mixture of lines and textures, with a large shelf that runs forth the nuance, opening upward the experience of the interior and providing a keen place to stash items like prison cell phones.
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The current generation of the Toyota Highlander handles better than previous versions of this family favorite.
The 2016 Toyota Highlander offers 4- and 6-cylinder engines, and Hybrid models, with a choice betwixt front- and all-cycle drive for much of the lineup.
Across that lineup, the Highlander has some like driving traits: information technology'due south smooth and generally fuel-efficient, but nothing to get all that excited about.
We take a favorite among them, and it isn't the expensive (and heavy) hybrid V-half dozen model.
The base of operations 2.7-liter inline-4 comes coupled to a 6-speed automated and is offered only with front-bicycle drive. Information technology'due south smoother than yous might look from such a large-displacement four, and it makes a meaty 185 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque; notwithstanding that's actually not all that much for a large three-row vehicle like the Highlander, and while it accelerates reasonably and smoothly, it can exist taxed with a total load.
Most models will come with the 3.5-liter V-six, with 270 hp and 248 lb-ft of torque; it's also teamed up with a 6-speed automatic, simply tin can be paired with either with front end- or all-wheel drive. Even here, it'southward not the quickest choice in the class—you'll find a turbocharged Ford Flex or Dodge Durango V-8 is far quicker—but it'south smooth, relatively potent, and surprisingly fuel-efficient.
At the height of the powertrain lineup is the Highlander Hybrid; merely earlier you call up this is the best bet—as is the case for some other Toyota models, like the Avalon—think again. Here, somehow, it doesn't add together up to very impressive performance (although mileage is a bit improve, especially in boondocks). In that location's a 231-hp version of the 3.5-liter 5-half dozen and an electrical motor in front end and in back, netting 280 hp. The engine and front motor are liked to a planetary-type variable power-split device, like Toyota's other vehicles with Hybrid Synergy Drive.
What makes this a bit dissimilar is that all versions of the Highlander Hybrid have through-the-road all-wheel drive courtesy of the rear motor, which means the hybridized engine/manual power the front wheels, while only electric ability passes to the rears. Yes, the mileage is improve, but adding 350 pounds of mechanical gear drags on the Hybrid's dispatch brings the power-to-weight ratio back into the territory of the 4-cylinder model—and you take to drive the Hybrid very gingerly to get those great mileage numbers.
Kickoff this year, all V-six (non-hybrid) Highlander models include a towing package that bumps upwards towing to v,000 pounds; inline-iv versions are rated at a puny 1,500 pounds.
Nosotros criticized how previous versions of the Highlander handled; simply the current versions actually handle responsively and neatly. Toyota reworked the Highlander'south front-strut and contained-rear suspension for better handling, and much of its substantial torso lean was tuned out with its last 2014 redesign. Ride quality is no longer cushy, only it'south on the correct side of house for a vehicle in this size class, though we'd avoid the optional 19-inch wheels to continue the feeling of big wheel impacts to a minimum.
The Highlander's firmer-feeling electric ability steering can even be called pleasant. Information technology'south as if all the invisible handling screws accept been tightened a few complete turns, without ruining its family-wagon fundamentals.
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A smooth, quiet ride and comfortable seats embrace the basics, while better cabin finishes now provide more to satisfy the particular-conscious.
The 2016 Toyota Highlander remains a vehicle that'due south quiet and calm, useful in well-nigh every way y'all'd look, and uncontroversial.
It's effectually 191 inches long, with a wheelbase nearly 110 inches, which places it around the same length equally a roomy mid-size sedan; nevertheless in that location are iii rows of seating—and space for up to eight in all.
The forepart seats in the Highlander are quite adept, although the hardware for the cooled seats slightly interferes with comfort. And to get power adjustment on both front chairs, by the way, you'll have to spend for the priciest Limited edition.
A big tambour-covered console separated the front seats and back in row ii you'll find either a three-person carve up-bench seat with a recline feature or a pair of helm'due south chairs. The standard ability sunroof interferes with head room for those in the 2d row, and then if you're tall you may appreciate the 2d row'south recline adjustability.
For general cargo usability, nosotros miss the "Center Stow" seat Toyota offered in the previous Highlander. Information technology had a section in the middle bench seat that tucked abroad into the panel, creating a pass-through to the 3rd row. Now there'south a flip-up cupholder tray to fill the space left behind betwixt captain's chairs on models so equipped. The new seat'due south less functional in that style, merely it slides on a track for good adjustability. It can either nibble away its own leg room or increment it, taking up space from the reclining third-row seat.
Every bit for the third row itself, there's still not much head room dorsum at that place, and nowhere virtually equally much as in a minivan, rendering it a place for smaller offspring and few else, although two adults tin squeeze in for short trips.
Cabin refinement is top-notch, though. With each generation the Highlander has become nicer, quieter, and calmer, and the latest Highlander feels like a luxury vehicle within, with thick audio-visual drinking glass damps powertrain dissonance, and insulation in the floor blots out vibrations, intermission chatter, and tire squawk. Soft-touch on materials on the dash are rich, the woods grain convincing, the tray formed into the dash a truly useful spot for all kinds of small electronics. The look tin can be a bit busy with some trim and cloth combinations, simply all said, it's come a long way versus the somewhat dour interiors this model offered a decade ago.
The three-person bench row folds flat and out of the way so the crossover can be loaded up: there's upwardly to xiii.8 cubic feet backside the third row, 42.three behind the second row, and 83.7 behind the front end two seats. It's plenty for a gear up of bunk beds or quite the stock-upward at the large-box stores.
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The Highlander is an IIHS Top Safety Pick+, and now includes a rearview photographic camera organisation.
The 2016 Toyota Highlander aims to be a great family unit vehicle, and based on a look at its safety feature prepare and crash-exam results, information technology's achieved that goal.
The Highlander includes 8 airbags, too every bit a standard rearview camera. Hill-offset assist is also included. Thanks to moved pillars and bigger rear-quarter windows, outward visibility has improved in the current generation of the Highlander.
Amid the advanced safety options are blind-spot monitors, a lane-divergence warning system, and parking sensors. A Commuter Technology Parcel bundles a pre-collision warning system and adaptive cruise command.
The IIHS gives the Highlander meridian "Good" ratings beyond the board, which nets the Highlander a Top Prophylactic Pick+ status. The available forward-standoff warning organization is the feature is what helps achieve rating; it earns an "Avant-garde" rating for front crash prevention from the IIHS.
In federal testing, the Highlander earned a five-star overall score, with iv stars for frontal crash and rollover testing and five stars in side bear upon.
If you want a Highlander Hybrid, you lot'll take to go with the very well-equipped Limited or Express Platinum models.
The 2016 Toyota Highlander is offered in a very wide range of models, although there's a solid push to make the V-6 engine the bulk of the model line. If you desire the 4-cylinder engine, it's only in a most basic, toll-leading model, while the Highlander Hybrid is only offered in elevation Express or Limited Platinum AWD models.
In the base Highlander LE, for effectually $30,000, you get a premium textile interior, a rearview photographic camera, Bluetooth, a USB port, and Toyota'southward Entune smartphone connectivity. Those LE Highlander models ride on xviii-inch wheels, and characteristic split-folding 2nd- and third-row seats.
Additionally, for 2016, all Highlander models with the Five-half dozen engine include the Towing Bundle, which allows upward to a 5,000-pound pulling adequacy. That includes a heavy-duty radiator, engine oil cooler, transmission oil cooler, 200-watt fan coupling, and 150-amp alternator.
Above the LE, there's an LE Plus package, which adds three-zone climate control, a ability tailgate with flip-upwardly drinking glass, satellite radio capability, and a power driver'due south seat.
Keyless ignition, leather upholstery, heated front seats, a sunroof, and a universal garage-door opener are all part of the XLE'due south feature set, as is an 8.0-inch touchscreen system with navigation. A Blu-ray DVD entertainment system is also an option, and the 2d-row demote seat tin exist swapped for captain's chairs.
The Limited is the only trim level offered with the Hybrid, although it is likewise available with the standard Five-half-dozen. Express Highlanders are equipped with xix-inch wheels; rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitors; second-row captain's chairs; heated and ventilated front seats; a ability forepart rider seat; and premium audio. A panoramic glass roof is an stand-alone option.
In the XLE and Express trims, a feature called Driver Piece of cake Speak uses a microphone to pipe front end-seat voices to dorsum-seat occupants in Highlander XLE and Limited trims—making a shout at third-row kids a little easier, if no less necessary.
Higher up that, you lot can add the Platinum Bundle. As such, the Highlander Limited Platinum includes the Driver Applied science Bundle (Prophylactic Connect, pre-collision with adaptive cruise control, and lane divergence alert with automatic high beams); a heated steering wheel, a panoramic sunroof, heated helm's chairs, and (added for 2016) pelting-sensing wipers.
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Gas mileage for the Highlander Hybrid is great past the ratings, although we haven't been able to friction match them in real-earth driving.
The 2016 Toyota Highlander Hybrid is the way to go if yous're peculiarly free energy-conscious—at least if y'all go by the EPA ratings of 27 mpg metropolis, 28 highway, 28 combined.
That said, nosotros've had trouble reaching those figures in real-world driving. Very gentle driving volition return numbers shut to this model's city rating, although in highway driving, at normal U.S. interstate speeds, nosotros've seen just mid-20s at best.
The least expensive Highlander, the 4-cylinder model with front-wheel drive, doesn't fare much better than a Ford Flex with a V-6, though, because the slightly underpowered engine has to piece of work difficult to move the Highlander's significant mass. The base of operations Highlander is rated at twenty/25/22 mpg.
Highlander V-half dozen models are the all-time bet, practically speaking, as they come with either front- or all-wheel bulldoze and while they simply manage xix/25/21 mpg in forepart-wheel drive form or 18/24/xx mpg with all-bicycle drive. These models, from our experience, deliver numbers quite close to what they promise on the window sticker—so yes, if you cover by and large highway miles, there's no large benefit for the Hybrid.
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Continue Reading
The Car Connection Consumer Review
July 8, 2016
2016 Toyota Highlander AWD 4-Door Limited Platinum (SE)
I am impressed with this Toyota hybrid
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May 29, 2016
2016 Toyota Highlander AWD four-Door V6 Limited Platinum (GS)
great all around vehical with fantabulous interior room and ride
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Source: https://www.thecarconnection.com/overview/toyota_highlander_2016
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